Graf, Iowa Harriet Ann (Hempel) 1888 - 1953

GRAF, HEMPEL, BICKEL, SPEER, BONZER

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 6/5/2018 at 09:02:10

Clayton County Register, Thur., 18 June 1953.

Funeral services for Iowa H. Graf were held at the Congregational Christian church, Elkader, at 2:00 p.m. Saturday afternoon, June 13, 1953. The Rev. Paul Kitterer officiated. Burial was in the East Side cemetery.

Iowa H. Graf, age 64 years, nine months and twenty-one days died shortly after midnight June 10, 1953. She had been in failing health for several years, but continued active until the evening of her death.

Iowa Harriet Ann Hempel, the daughter of John G. and Emma Bickel Hempel was born in McGregor, Iowa, August 19, 1888. The family lived in Giard for several years after which they moved to Elkader in 1895. She received her education in the Elkader public schools.

On October 24, 1911 she was united in marriage to Gustav J. Graf at Elkader, Iowa. Two children wered born to this union: Gustav Jr., deceased, and Mary Elizabeth Speer, of St. Louis, Mo. She was active in many community activities. She was a member of the Congregational Christian church and served as a deaconess at the present time. She was a deputy to the county treasurer from 1916 to 1918, and had been active in Republican party activities and the Daughters of the American Revolution. The past fourteen years she had been society editor of the Clayton County Register. She was also reporter for radio station WMT and other news agencies throughout Iowa.

Surviving are her husband, a daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. V. C. Speer, and two grandchildren, David Michael and James Dale Speer, all of St. Louis, and one sister, Kathleen M. Hempel of Elkader.

Her parents preceded her in death, her father J. G. Hempel on October 2, 1945, and her mother on January 22, 1950. Also one sister, Johnnyette, in 1906.

Pallbearers were: E. C. Bandow, Julius Pahlas, Milton Wolf, Max Bishop, Arthur J. Meyer, and H. J. Conrad.

Relatives from a distance who attended the services were Mr. and Mrs. V. C. Speer, David and James, St. Louis, Mo.; Miss Lydia Graf, Dubuque; Mr. and Mrs. George Bonzer, Nashua; Mrs. Charles Bonzer, Charles City; Barton Bonzer, Charles City; Mr. and Mrs. I. F. Speer, Milford, Iowa; and a host of friends.